MAINE vs. NO. 1 QUINNIPIAC
Time, site: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 5-13-5, Quinnipiac 19-1-3
Series, last meeting: 3-3, Quinnipiac 4-0 on Oct. 20, 2015
Key players: Maine — C Will Merchant (8 goals, 5 assists), LW Blaine Byron (5 & 7), D Dan Renouf (5 & 7), C Cam Brown (3 & 7), C Steven Swavely (6 & 3), G Rob McGovern (1-9-2, 2.57 goals-against average, .914 save percentage), G Matt Morris (4-4-3, 2.96, .914); Quinnipiac— C Travis St. Denis (12 & 15), LW Sam Anas (13 & 13), C Tim Clifton (13 & 10), RW Landon Smith (6 & 13), D Chris Priskie (1 & 16), D Devon Toews (3 & 11), G Michael Garteig (19-1-3, 1.41, .940)
Game notes: Quinnipiac has won the last three meetings. The nation’s top-ranked Bobcats have become one of the elite programs in college hockey with three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances including a 4-0 loss to Yale in the 2012-13 NCAA championship game. Maine head coach Red Gendron was an assistant at Yale at the time. Over the past four and a half seasons, Quinnipiac is 116-45-24. The Black Bears will be shorthanded as freshmen defensemen Rob Michel and Keith Muehlbauer and senior center Will Merchant didn’t practice Monday due to undisclosed injuries. There is a chance Merchant could play. Quinnipiac hasn’t played in 10 days so the Black Bears might be able to capitalize early. The Bobcats have the nation’s seventh-best power play (26 percent efficiency) behind St. Denis’ seven power play goals and Clifton’s six. So Maine has to stay out of the penalty box. Maine also has to find a way to score some goals and has to limit the chances produced by the high-powered line of St. Denis between Anas and Smith.